Why are there so many migrants, legal or illegal in the Philippines? We now face the issue of uncontrolled migration and migrant smuggling.
I chose to tackle this issue because of the constant news of Chinese nationals involved in illegal activities in our country. We have enough problems from our undisciplined and hard-headed citizens.
Pubmed.com reported that the recent large-scale emigration from developing countries has been provoked by world economic crises and/or by reaction to dangers posed by armed conflicts.
“Migrants eventually induce social, economic and political problems in receiving countries.” Some of the adverse effects of migration as reported by the website are increases in the population with effects on the existing social institutions; increase in demand for goods and services; displacement of nationals from occupations in the countryside and cities; increases in the size of the informal sector of the national economy; and deterioration in the salary structures of the informal rural and urban sectors of the national economy.
What is bothersome is the transculturation and occasional loss of customs and traditions by the local population which have already been infused in our country predominantly in Chinese cuisine (we have to cook pansit for long life during birthdays) and belief of feng shui.
While receiving countries of migrants benefit from the infusion of skills, the negative effects still outweigh the benefits. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime presented suggestions to reduce migrant smuggling: “Create or reform national legal frameworks to combat migrant smuggling, in line with international legal standards to include the criminalization and prosecution of migrant smugglers and the confiscation of illegally obtained assets, and to build law enforcement capacity to investigate and prosecute smuggling networks.”
I am not suffering from PhobiaChinoy but being nationalistic. I am not comfortable living with Chinese undesirables and those who “lord over us.” As Sen. Risa Hontiveros puts it in a question: “Why are we dealing with ‘pugantes’ (fugitives)?” The senator was referring to the chief executive officer of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals shown in a video with no less than the President of the Philippines. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon is currently investigating an alleged trading of overpriced face masks and face shields, with the above-mentioned Chinese company involving P8 billion.